Marvel at the breathtaking beauty of the most 'exquisite' Islamic Mosque in the world.

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is not only a sacred pilgrimage site for Muslims but also an architectural masterpiece with a unique artistic decoration style. This awe-inspiring religious structure in the world is named after the founding president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Explore the intriguing aspects within one of the world's 10 largest mosques, which is an enticing destination when traveling to the United Arab Emirates.

Always welcome and embrace everyone.

Unlike most mosques worldwide, visiting Abu Dhabi's Grand Mosque Sheikh Zayed is entirely different. The mosque, with its sparkling white exterior and fairytale-like appearance, was completed in 2007 with the purpose of fostering interaction among cultures, not only within the Muslim community but also with other religions.

The diversity of the mosque is also reflected in the architects who built it (hailing from the UK, Italy, and the UAE), the construction materials used (tiles from Turkey, wool from New Zealand, glass from Germany), and the open-door policies that bring it back to the golden age of Islam. Today, it attracts over a million visitors annually. The guides here often say, 'Everyone is welcome here, whether you're Jewish, Christian, or of other faiths,' which is very unique about this place. The goal of this mosque is not only to be a place of Muslim prayer but also a hub for exchanging different cultural perspectives.

Sheikh Zayed's Mausoleum

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan rose to prominence in the 1940s with his extraordinary ability to negotiate peace among Bedouin tribes in the Arabian desert. In 1966, he established a federation with the Emirates of Dubai, leading to the formation of the United Arab Emirates - a new nation comprising 7 emirates - of which he served as president. Zayed used the vast revenue from Abu Dhabi's oil to build skyscrapers, world-class infrastructure, and cultural treasures such as mosques, which began construction in 1996. Zayed passed away in 2004, three years before the completion of the Grand Mosque. He was laid to rest in a mausoleum, the image you're seeing is a corner in the northern part of the mosque.

Central Courtyard

The most important aspect of Sheikh Zayed is that you can witness the entire vista of the Grand Mosque, synthesized from architectural styles of various Islamic civilizations to signify cultural diversity. In the main courtyard of the mosque - a dazzling white space with reflecting pools and columns gilded with enough space for 30,000 people - is inspired by the Pakistani Badshahi Mosque and the Moroccan Hassan II Mosque. In the corners of the mosque are four minarets towering 107m high, embodying three different geometric styles: the Mamluk block from Egypt at ground level, the hexagon from North Africa in the middle, and atop are cylindrical towers inspired by Ottoman architecture from Turkey.

Artistic Arches

The Grand Mosque boasts 82 large onion-shaped domes in 7 different sizes inspired by Lahore's Badshahi Mosque in Pakistan - epitomizing the beauty, passion, and authority of the Mughal era in Islamic history. The arches here reflect the essence of Moorish, or North African Islamic architecture. You can also learn more about the construction of the domes during the free guided tours held four times a day if you happen to visit.

Foyer Area

One notable aspect when visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is that you must remove your shoes before entering the foyer and adhere to certain dress regulations such as: For men, trousers must be worn down to the ankles and closed-toe shoes, while for women, arms and legs must be covered carefully (headscarves are provided free of charge in the parking lots). You may notice Arabic calligraphy letters affixed inside the domes, each letter painted in gold leaf and written in the An-Naskh style, the most common typeface in Arabic printing.

Chandelier Lights in the Foyer

Large mosques are often adorned with 7 gigantic chandelier lights, executed by the German company Faustig - one of 38 different contractors used to construct the mosque. Each chandelier can weigh from 8 to 12 tons and is suspended by a type of steel beam capable of bearing loads up to 36 tons.

Main Prayer Hall

The foyer leads to the main prayer hall - an immensely vast space with dimensions of two side chambers (one reserved for female worshippers) and can accommodate up to 10,000 people. The main hall is supported by 96 towering columns, each covered with Macedonian marble and embellished with mother-of-pearl and various other precious stones. Inside each column is an air conditioning system equivalent in size to a small bus.

Main Chandelier

This is the largest chandelier in the Grand Mosque, located at the center of the main prayer hall designed in the shape of a palm tree, a type of tree commonly seen throughout the United Arab Emirates. It is crafted from stainless steel and brass, both plated with 40 kg of 24-carat gold. And there are about 40 million Swarovski crystals used to adorn the 7 chandeliers of the Grand Mosque.

Close-up of the Main Chandelier

The main chandelier resembles a crown adorned with red and green crystal balls representing the palm tree. This tree is an iconic symbol of the United Arab Emirates, as you can spot it everywhere during your time here. The palm tree is known for its 'extraordinary resilience' as it remains tough enough to withstand droughts and summer temperatures averaging between 41 to 43 degrees Celsius. It holds significant cultural importance in Arab culture, and in Abu Dhabi, a palm tree festival is held annually in November.

Special Carpet Panel

The carpet here is woven by an Iranian carpet company and designed by Iranian artist Ali Khaliqi. This is the world's largest hand-woven carpet measuring 5,700 square meters. It was woven by 1,200 craftsmen over a period of 16 months. The transportation process of the carpet was meticulous as it had to be brought in from Iran, hence it had to be cut into 9 pieces and transported on two large jet planes. It is primarily made from wool from New Zealand, and if you look closely, you'll notice the center of this carpet is a perfect replica of the main chandelier.

Allah's Wall

Arabic calligraphy embellishes the Qibla wall facing the holy city of Mecca in the main prayer hall, where 99 names of Allah attributes (such as Allah, the Creator, and the Supreme Being) are prominently engraved with delicate light, surrounded by a crescent moon inlaid with 24-carat gold. Tour guides here say, 'Before microphones and speakers were invented, niches like these were used as amplification for the voice of Islamic leaders during Friday prayers.'

Reflecting Pool

The mosque is surrounded by a reflective tiled swimming pool that can illuminate under spotlights at night. The pool with prominent images features in thousands of photos sent here every year by tourists hoping to win the annual 'Light Space' photo contest. Winning photos will be exhibited in the foyer area of the Emirates Palace Hotel and published in the Light Space magazine, a hardcover collection sold in gift shops throughout Abu Dhabi.

As per BBC

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide